As autumn’s scarlet foliage
bursts first in maples and then in red oaks
most other hardwood trees
glisten golden beneath October’s sun.
Walking outside under an azure sky
feeling a welcoming warm sun
stokes memories of Octobers long gone
and how much times have changed.
Remembering when first frost came early
and arrived already in September
and when peak foliage was prevalent
no later than mid-October.
It was a month for raking fallen leaves
and the smell of them burning
drinking hot chocolate or apple cider
on frosty hunter’s moon nighttime hayrides
Followed sometimes with days of sultry air
the last hurrah of Indian summer
before clouds and rain swept in a cold front
and a rude reminder of what followed.
I'm enjoying this season, but I'm not looking forward to leaf clearing. My neighbor across the street manages in one day to put his whole yard of leaves into 1 1/2 lanes of my street, so I can't back out unless I plow into them, needless to say, drive on the street. The city truck/front loader comes about three weeks later to pick them up--badly. By then, the neighbor's leaves are all in my yard. No burning allowed here. Too bad!
Ah, yes, that rude reminder of what's ahead weather wise.